Oct 10, 2006

Post-Tsunami Rebuilding on a Road to Nowhere

by Laura Starita

In the two years since the south Asian tsunami killed more than 100,000 people, the media has highlighted a number of idiosyncrasies involving the aid effort. Primary among them has been the extraordinary amount of aid donated to help feed and shelter affected communities and help rebuild lives. In the months after the tsunami hit, more than $3.8 billion in relief aid was pledged, according to Oxfam.

As is often the case, available funds are not necessarily used in a manner that does the most for the recipients. A recent New York Times article highlights such a case. The article profiles a road-building project sponsored by the U.S. government as a good-will initiative for Aceh province amid post-tsunami destruction. The article highlights common challenges resulting in project delays, mostly centered around the inability of the Indonesian government to acquire enough contiguous land.

One point the article makes but briefly is that the local community does not want the road. A number of locals are arguing that the money would be better used to help rebuild homes and businesses, many of which are still out of commission.

Good intentions ... roads are paved, or not paved, with them.

New York Times: After Tsunami, Intentions to Build but No Road Yet